Amazon held a summit this week targeting China-based merchants, a significant portion of its third-party marketplace, amidst increasing competition from Chinese discount online retailers Shein and Temu. The company unveiled plans for an "innovation center" near Shenzhen, often referred to as China's Silicon Valley, aimed at supporting sellers in the Asia-Pacific region with product launches, brand building, and digitization.
As part of its strategy, Amazon is providing Chinese sellers access to its end-to-end supply chain service, initially launched in the U.S. in September. This service allows merchants to manage the entire supply chain process, from overseas factories to replenishing goods on Amazon and other platforms seamlessly.
Although Amazon no longer operates in China, the country remains a focal point for businesses targeting Amazon's global customer base. Despite the heightened competition, Amazon reported a more than 20% year-over-year growth in the number of items sold by Chinese sellers on its platform in 2023. Additionally, the number of Chinese sellers with sales exceeding $10 million increased by 30%.
In contrast, competitors like Temu, owned by Chinese tech giant PDD Holdings, and Shein, which moved its headquarters to Singapore, pose a challenge. Shein, known for fast fashion items, recently filed for a confidential IPO in the U.S. Temu, a digital bargain platform, has gained traction with a significant share of Google ad impressions.
To counter this competition, Amazon recently adjusted its seller fees, notably reducing the commission on clothing priced below $15 to 5% from 17%. This move is seen as a strategic appeal to Shein and Temu merchants. Etsy CEO Josh Silverman acknowledged the impact of these emerging competitors, emphasizing the importance of offering alternatives to the disposable goods market.
As the annual conference for sellers in China unfolds, Amazon aims to reinforce its position in the region, leveraging its established marketplace infrastructure and new initiatives to support sellers amidst the evolving e-commerce landscape.
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